Valve-spring clip and method of manufacturing same



,Nov'. 19, 1929. J. SUNNEN 1,736,231

VALVE SPRING CLIP AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURINGSAME Filed Sept. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Evade) Nov. 19, 1929. J. suNNEN 1,736,231

VALVE SPRING CLIP AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME Filed Sept. 21, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l l lIl l l l Patented Nov. 1%, 192% JOSEPH sumvmv, or s'n- LOUIS, MISSOURI VALVE-SEEING CLIP AND'IVIETHOD or MANUFACTURING sAMn Application filed September 21, 1927. Serial No; 220,998.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in valve spring clips of the type designed to hold a valve spring of an internal combustion engine in compressedposiltion preparatory to the insertion of said spring in position on the engine and to a novel method of manufacturing such spring clips. This type of springtclip is particularly designed for use in conjunction with spring com- Q'pres sors of my improved design as shown and described in my copending application use thereof in combination with a suitable spring compressor and which has its handle iportion arranged at a predetermined angle to the spring engaging portions in order to enable the use of the clip on engines inaccessible to spring clips now in use. i

, Further objects of the invention are to proi vide an improved spring clipwhich may be stamped out of sheet material and to provide a novel method of manufacturingsaid spring clips in an economical andefficient manner, thereby reducing the wastage of material to Ta minimum and enabling the production of the clips in large quantities and at a comparatively low cos Y Still further objects of the invention are to provide a spring clip having its spring engaging portions provided at one of their ends with spring receiving seats and having its a thereby adapting said. "clip for use valve springsofdifferent lengths.

opposite ends adapted tob'e out to proper length and bentlaterally to form seats for engaging the opposite end of said spring With these "and other objects in view my invention-consists in certain novel features and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated, in'

W i hi a Figure 1 is a fragmental top plan view of a piece of metalfrom which the clip blanks are.

g stamped as {indicated indot-and-Ydash lines.

with

blanks.

Figure 2 is a top plan View of "one Figure 3 is a front elevational view-"ofthesame. V s

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure'2 but showing the blank trimmed and having portions bent upwardly to form seats for the'y lower end of the valve spring. 1

Figure 5 isa front elevation view of-the blank shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the formed 3 spring clip and showing the upper ends of the 1 spring engaging portions left straight Figure7 is a front elevation of the spring clip showing the valvespring in dotted lines and showing the upper ends of the spring,

engaging portions cut and bent at right angles for engagementwith the upper endjof i the compressed spring. I

The springvclipis made by forminginte proper shape a blank which is stamped from 1 a sheet of metal. The size and shape of each" blank is so arranged as to enable the stamping thereof out of a sheet of metal of a certain size with a minimum of wastage of material and a minimum amount of. labor. 7

Referring by numerals tothe accompany-" ing drawings 10 indicates a sheet of metal}, of proper size and thickness. Thc forward end of the sheet is cut as shownin-Figure" 1 ona line which runs obliquely from each edge l0 xof the sheetas indicated at These lines run forla suitable distanceinfor a short distance as indicated at 12, the;

distance being equal to the Width oft-he side" leg portions of the clip. Th' e,lines'of the out then run for a short distance parallel to. lines 11 as indicated at 14 5 1 11 Conver for; Wardly as indicated t 1 5; V

' The sheet ofmetal 10 is fed forward'a suitwardly and are then deflected at rightiangles' able distance step by step and *a' similarlyformed out is made at each operation as indi cated by dot-and-dash lines A thereby form ing blanks 16 as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The blank thus formed comprises "side;

leg portions 17 and an intermediate portion 18 which unites said side portionsat points spaced a short distance from the square rear ends or portions 1759f said blank; The. OP;

into U-shape to bring said sideportions into spaced parallel relation with each other, 7 whereby when said side portions occupy spring engaging positions, said U-shaped' portion forms a handle inclined downwardly from the horizontal, the ends of said side portions being bent laterally and inwardly to form projecting lugs adapted to receive the ends of the compressed spring.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a spring clip comprising a single piece blank having an intermediate portion and side portions connected to the ends of the last men-V tioned portion and disposed obliquely thereto, said intermediate portion being adapted to be bent into a U-shape, thereby bringing said side portions in parallel spaced relation, one end of each side portion being bent laterally andinwardly to form a seat for the lower end of a compressed valve spring, the other end of each side portion being left straight and adapted to be bent inwardly toward each other at a point spaced the desired distance from the first end to engage r the upper end of the compressed spring, said U-shaped portion being disposed obliquely to said parallel portions'to form a handle for the clip.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a clip for compressed springs comprising a single piece blank having formed integral an intermediate portion and a pair of side portions disposed obliquely thereto and connected to the ends thereof, said intermediate portion 

